News

PLANS to extend an Ennis primary school will lead to an “enhanced” school experience with “better facilities” for the existing staff and students. That’s according to a report lodged with Clare County Council as part of a planning application by the Board of Management of Gaelscoil Mhíchíl Cíosóg for a two storey extension at the school. If given the go-ahead the school on the Gort Road will see the development of six classrooms, a general purpose hall, two SEN classrooms and two ball courts as well as additional staff car parking and other associated works. A mobility and management report into the proposal has been compiled by P Coleman & Associates on behalf of the applicant and lodged with the planning application. It outlines that the proposed extended school will not create any additional students or trips with no planned increase in students or staff. The existing school has 471 students and 31 staff. “The purpose of the new classroom …

A WOMAN who stole from and desecrated graves in County Clare “hasn’t shown one ounce of empathy for the consequences of her behaviour”. At Killaloe District Court sitting in Ennis this Tuesday, Judge Mary Larkin made her comment about Mairead O’Sullivan (42) who has entered 18 separate guilty pleas to charges of stealing goods with a combined value of €597.50 from graves at cemeteries at Drumcliffe and Templemaley outside Ennis and also from Tulla cemetery. There are 14 victims in the case as Ms O’Sullivan of Fergus View, Cappahard, Tulla Road, Ennis, stole from the same graves on a number of occasions. At the same court in May, mother, Kirsty Donnellan described as “pure evil” the actions of Ms O’Sullivan who stole from and desecrated her daughter’s grave on three separate occasions. Ms Donnellan told the court that she was “in a state of shock, anger and despair” when finding that her daughter, Scarlett’s grave had been desecrated in May …

A NEW wing featuring a permanent exhibition of Irish Air Corps memorabilia as been opened at the Shannon Aviation Museum. Exhibits include an Air Corps Fouga Magister F216, which was formerly on display at Collins Barracks, along with a Reims Rocket Cessna 172, which was in the fleet for 47 years. The installation of the permanent exhibition coincides with the Irish Air Corps centenary. At the official opening, director of the Museum Jane Magill paid tribute to the late Eddie Ryan, who was also heavily involved in its foundation. “Eddie would have been absolutely thrilled. We’d like to dedicate our efforts and this day to Eddie and his family.” She paid tribute to the Air Corps, saying, “The display area here is intended to recognise the Irish Air Corps and their contribution to our nation. The men and women who serve us with pride and excellence, and I’ve come to know a lot of them over the last few years. …

Gardai in Kilrush are investigating a burglary in which a man impersonated a garda to con a woman out of her money. The incident occurred between 6pm and 7pm last Saturday, September 3, in Cooraclare. The homeowner reported a male knocked on her door, informed her that he was a Garda and that he was there to check that her money was secure. The man then entered the house and the homeowner handed over two purses with a quantity of her cash inside; the man then left the scene. There was no damage to any property and the homeowner was not assaulted or threatened. The culprit is described as being approximately 60 years of age, wearing a face mask and denim jeans. If anybody was in the area at the time or has any information about this incident they can contact Kilrush Garda Station on 065-9080550 or indeed any Garda station.

This year has seen “a dramatic improvement” in the finances of Lahinch Golf Club, according to club chairperson John Gleeson. in his first report to golf club members, Mr Gleeson stated that green fee income at Lahinch is expected to exceed the projected €2.8m for 2022. Currently in ‘high season’ it costs non-members €250 in green fees for a round of golf for Lahinch’s main course. The club successfully hosted the 2019 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open and Mr Gleeson said that “our finances are in a very healthy state”. Mr Gleeson told members that the last two years have been very challenging but exceptional management by the Club Council and Club management in controlling costs together with tight cash management “meant we exited the pandemic very well”. He said, “We are committed to rebuilding the Club’s finances and our Contingency Fund to ensure we can sustain any future shocks and to also fund our capital expenditure programme including the …

PLANNING permission has been refused for a 30-metre high telecommunications structure on Loop Head due to visual impact. An application had been made by Vantage Towers Ltd for the mast with antannae, dishes and associated telecommunications equipment at Moyarta East, Carrigaholt. The proposed site is 260 metres west of the R468 regional road and 1.56km from the R487 regional road, which is a designated scenic route to the north west. The mast was to be sited in a locally elevated position in a relatively low landscape and views would be available towards the site from the south and south west on the local road network. This last point especially mitigated against the granting of planning permission as the planner’s report stated, “Having regard to the locally elevated nature of the site, the open nature of the receiving landscape and the height of the structure as proposed, views would be available towards the tower from multiple vantage points to the north, …

The fact that almost 58,000 people are now waiting for care across hospitals in the Mid-West has been condemned as a “national disgrace” by a local lobby group. The Mid-West Hospital Campaign (MWHC) has claimed removing 24-hour casualty cover from Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals in April 2009 has resulted in 58,774 people waiting for public hospital inpatient/day treatment, GI endoscopies or an outpatient appointment with a consultant throughout the region. New figures released by the HSE confirm that one in every three (33%) approved permanent Hospital Consultant posts in the UL Hospitals’ Group are either vacant or filled on a temporary or agency basis – an all-time high 68 out of 206 approved Consultant posts3 – an increase of 16 posts not filled as needed since November 2020. Outpatient waiting lists at hospitals in the Mid-West region have almost doubled, with a 94% hike since 2015. The number of ‘long waiters’ on the list to be assessed by a consultant …

NEW housing could be horizon for O’Callaghan’s Mills, with planners considering an application for the development of three homes in the village.  Proposals for three four-bedroom homes were lodged by East Clare Construction, whose directors are listed as Joe and Teresa Cooney of Ballymacdonnell, Bodyke. Plans submitted show the proposed homes are detached, two-storey units, each with a garage. They are proposed for a site of just over half a hectare at Iragh, inside the village, owned by the company since 2015.  The floor space of each home is 167.5m squared and the application states that Part V of the Planning and Development Act does not apply in this case.  The development would be connected to the public water supply, and waste water management systems would have to be installed. A Site Suitability Report for one of the proposed homes, was prepared for the Waste Water Treatment System, in accordance with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) codes in July. The report …